Marquez, Sanchez and Chicharito Headline Mexico's All-Time Best XI
SBI Soccer
4 Yrs Ago
Mexican soccer has produced some entertaining teams, and highly skilled players over the years, with the Mexican national team a perennial fixture at the World Cup and a growing number of Mexicans making the jump to European soccer.
There was a time not too long ago when Mexico’s best players tended to stay in the Mexican league, Liga MX, rather than plying their trade overseas. Legends such as Hugo Sanchez and Rafa Marquez were exceptions to that early trend, but these days we are seeing more and more of Mexico’s best testing themselves in the world’s top leagues.
The new generation of Mexican stars features standouts such as Atletico Madrid’s Hector Herrerra, Napoli’s Hirving Lozano and Ajax’s Edson Alvarez, while veteran striker Raul Jimenez is setting the stand with his goal-scoring exploits in the English Premier League.
While you could argue that the current generation of Mexican talent may be the strongest ever, it has a way to go before matching the exploits of Mexican soccer’s greatest players.
Here is a closer look at the very best soccer players Mexico has ever produced, with a focus on the modern era of the past 30 years:
JORGE CAMPOS. Goalkeeper
Remembered for his flashy goalkeeper jerseys and acrobatic saves, Campos was far from a prototypical goalkeeper. The 5-foot-6 shot-stopper used his cat-like reflexes and overall quickness to frustrate opponents, while his on-the-ball skill helped him develop a style we see more often in the modern game.
Campos made 130 appearances for the Mexican national team, playing in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups and helping Mexico win the 1999 Confederations Cup. He spent all of his club career between Liga MX and MLS, winning a Liga MX crown with UNAM Pumas in 1991 and the 1998 MLS Cup with the Chicago Fire.
RICARDO OSORIO, Right Back
What Osorio lacked in flashiness he made up for with consistency and overall excellence. His breakout performance came at the 2006 World Cup, where he played well enough to earn a transfer to Bundesliga side Stuttgart. He and fellow Mexican Pavel Pardo helped Stuttgart win the 2007 Bundesliga title.
Osorio made 82 appearances for the Mexican national team, featuring as a starter in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. After a four-year stint at Stuttgart, Osorio returned to Mexico and joined Monterrey, winning a Liga MX title and three Concacaf Champions League titles before retiring in 2016.
RAFA MARQUEZ, Centerback
The only player in history to serve as captain of their national team at five World Cups, and one of just three players to play in five World Cups, Marquez is a legendary player who enjoyed outstanding success for both club and country. His exploits as a starter for FC Barcelona along with his successes as captain of El Tri earned him the distinction of being regarded by some as the best Mexican player in history.
Marquez made 147 appearances for Mexico, and on the club level he won titles in three different countries. His career in Europe started with a successful stint with AS Monaco before joining FC Barcelona in 2003. He went on to win four La Liga titles and two Champions League titles with Barcelona during his seven seasons at the club. He eventually returned to Mexico, helping Club Leon to a pair of Liga MX titles to add to his impressive championship collection.
CLAUDIO SUAREZ, Centerback
The legendary defender who holds the all-time Mexican national team appearance record, Suarez spent his entire club career in North America, but that didn’t stop him from developing a reputation as a top-class player.
A member of the 1994 and 1998 Mexican World Cup teams, Suarez made 177 appearances for El Tri, Suarez won Liga MX titles with UNAM Pumas and Chivas Guadalajara before a lengthy stint with Tigres. Suarez was part of three Gold Cup-winning Mexico teams, and was a part of El Tri’s 1999 Confederations Cup-winning squad.
CARLOS SALCIDO, Left Back
When Salcido’s two-decade career ended in November, he left the game having put together a body of work that few Mexican players can match. He enjoyed success in Liga MX and Europe, and helped Mexico capture Olympic glory with a gold medal in 2012.
Salcido made 124 appearances for the Mexican national team, playing in the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cups. He was one of the three overage players on Mexico’s gold-medal Olympic team in 2012. On the club side, Salcido won a pair of Eredivisie titles with PSV Eindhoven before spending a season at Fulham. In Liga MX, Salcido won league titles with Tigres and Chivas Guadalajara, which he also helped win the 2018 Concacaf Champions League.
ANDRES GUARDADO, Midfielder
A four-time World Cup participant with the Mexican national team, Guardado has put together an outstanding club career, with more than a decade spent in Europe’s top leagues. Originally a winger, Guardado eventually evolved into an excellent central midfield and remains a key figure in the El Tri setup at the age of 33.
Currently on 158 appearances for Mexico, Guardado served as captain of El Tri at the 2018 World Cup. On the club level, Guardado won two Eredivisie titles with PSV Eindhoven and spent a decade’s worth of seasons in La Liga, first with Deportivo La Coruna, then Valencia, and currently Real Betis.
CUAUHTEMOC BLANCO. Midfielder
Few players were more beloved by Mexico fans than Blanco. The enigmatic but supremely skilled playmaker was an icon with Liga MX powerhouse Club America, but his heroics with El Tri sealed his legendary status.
Blanco made 120 appearances for the Mexican national team, playing in the 1998, 2002 and 2010 World Cups, while also becoming the first Mexican to score in three World Cups. His highlight-reel passes and stunning free kicks were unmatched, and he helped El Tri win the 1999 Confederations Cup as well as the 1996 and 1998 Concacaf Gold Cups.
ALBERTO GARCIA ASPE, Midfielder
A model of consistency for club and country, Garcia Aspe starred for four different Liga MX teams, and while he never did make the move to Europe, his contributions to the Mexican national team secured his place on this team.
Garcia Aspe made 109 appearances for El Tri, scoring 21 goals and playing on three World Cup teams. He scored goals in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups. On the club side, Garcia Aspe won Liga MX titles with UNAM Pumas and Necaxa.
JAVIER HERNANDEZ, Striker
The leading scorer in Mexican national team history, Hernandez built his reputation among Mexico fans on his stints at storied clubs Manchester United and Real Madrid, as well as on his exploits with El Tri, scoring a record 52 national team goals.
Currently on 109 appearances for Mexico, Hernandez rose to prominence with Chivas Guadalajara, winning a Liga MX Golden Boot at the age of 21, earning him a transfer to Manchester United. He made more than 100 appearances with the Red Devils, scoring 37 goals and playing a part in two English Premier League title runs.
JARED BORGETTI, Striker
A trailblazer who held the Mexican National Team goal-scoring recored before Chicharito Hernandez broke it, Borgetti has the distinction of being the first Mexican player to play in the Premier League.
Scorer of 46 goals in 89 appearances with El Tri, Borgetti was a key member ofd Mexico’s 2002 World Cup team, helping lead El Tri to the 2003 Gold Cup title.
HUGO SANCHEZ, Striker
The one player who can challenge Rafa Marquez for “Greatest ever Mexican player” status, Sanchez was dominant in Spain, and while he wasn’t able to translate his club success to the international level with Mexico, Sanchez’s legend is undeniable.
Sanchez was unstoppable in the 80s, finishing as La Liga’s top scorer five times in six seasons. After helping Atletico Madrid to a Copa Del Rey title in 1985, Sanchez moved to Real Madrid, where he became an icon, helping Real Madrid win five La Liga titles in a row, along with a UEFA Cup.
Sanchez won silverware in Mexico before and after his time in Europe. With El Tri, Sanchez was part of three World Cup teams, including the 1978 team as a teenager. He helped El Tri reach the World Cup quarterfinals in 1986, and finished his Mexican national team career with 29 goals in 58 matches.